Latest News and Trends in the Mom Market by BSM Media and Maria Bailey

Friday, January 9, 2009

Moms Get Techie in 2009

For years, savvy Moms have been developing their own strategies for managing their hectic lifestyles and growing families. However, if you take a look into the tool kit of today’s Mom, you’ll find that Mom’s methods have come a long way from band-aids and paper-based calendars. Mothers, now more than ever, are using technology such as video, blogs and wireless devices to multi-task through their busy days, using more than 5 separate technologies daily. 2009 stands to produce a record number of tech-savvy mothers bridging devices together to create everyday solutions.

While gathering research for my latest book, “Mom 3.0: Marketing with Today’s Mothers by Leveraging New Media & Technology, I found that a mom’s primary objective in using technology is to stay in touch with her busy family and manage their schedules effectively. In 2009, these same Moms will delve even deeper into the world of technology as they discover new functionality of the tools they are already using.

As the new year is upon us, here are my predictions for the top 5 technology trends to watch for in 2009:

1. The Emergence of Mom 3.0

They may be living in a 2.0 world but today’s moms are creating their own systems of solutions to operate on a 3.0 level. According to research conducted by BSM Media, www.bsmmedia.com, the majority of moms (65%) utilize 5 or more forms of technology every day. These moms are turning to devices such as computers, cell phones and mp3 players, as well as communication forums like blogs and instant messaging, to stay connected with their families, deliver useful content to their peers and manage their fast-paced worlds.

2009 will be the year that the world is introduced to Mom 3.0. And who is Mom 3.0, you might ask? She is a powerful consumer who not only purchases products, but influences the decision making process of her peers through the use of new media, technology and content that is relevant and intuitive. She is the living, breathing personification of what Internet trend analysts foresee in the emergence of Web 3.0.

2. Vlogs Become the New Blogs

It is my prediction that Mom vloggers will outnumber mommy bloggers by the end of 2009, as moms begin to see the ease of distributing and consuming information through video. Recent research points to online video as the next preferred media among Moms. In fact, 82% of moms have watched 2 or more videos in the last week, versus 35% who have read blogs in the last week.

According to 64% of moms, video is an appealing format because it’s adaptable to their lifestyles. Vlogs allow Moms to learn and share with other Moms- all while stirring macaroni and cheese and answering homework questions. And the emergence of convenient, handheld camcorders, such as the Flip Video, makes shooting and uploading home videos easy and accessible. Currently Newbaby.com, www.newbaby.com has built the largest network of Mommy Vloggers who review products and chronicle their journey through parenthood.

3. The Return of Podcasts

In 2009, a decade after the buzzword was coined, podcasts will make a comeback. Back in 1999, when podcasts first emerged on the technology landscape, only 20% of moms owned some form of mp3 player. However, today, over 80% of moms have a means to listen to a podcast, whether through computer downloads or popular mp3 players like the iPod and Zune. Whatever listening device Moms choose, podcasts are a perfect fit for an on-the-go lifestyle. Moms can download specialized talk radio, shows and music and take entertainment and relevant content with them throughout their day, whether they are driving carpool in a minivan or jogging behind a double stroller.

With 80% of the market having the right tools in hand, it’s time for this medium to experience the growth it deserves.

Moms have contributed to the growth of the social media phenomenon because interacting virtually with their peers allows them to nurture relationships in a simpler way. Joining social networking sites allows Moms to share product recommendations and parenting advice with like-minded Moms across the country. Recent statistics show that more than 40% of American mothers have Facebook profiles.

And now that these multi-tasking Moms have grown comfortable using these platforms to share with their peers, they are starting to use them to fulfill another core motivator- staying in touch with their families. Much as many Moms have found texting to be the most effective form of communication with their kids in 2008, in 2009 Moms will be tweeting, instant messaging and creating profiles on sites such as Facebook and MySpace to keep up with their adolescents and tweens.

5. Digital Photography and Video Sharing Leaves the Laptop

With the popularity of the Nintendo Wii among moms, it won’t be long before moms discover the functionalities of sharing photos over the game system and move their memory sharing from online to their living room. By inserting her camera’s memory card into her Wii, a mom can create an interactive photo slideshow that can be shown in her home, as the perfect backdrop to a party, or shared virtually with other moms or family members that have access to the game system.

Since many moms will be resolving to actually get their photos off of their cameras this New Year, digital photo frames will grow in popularity. Most of these widely available and easy-to-use devices allow Moms to store and display over 4,000 images in an attractive setting that fits in with any décor.

2009 will no doubt be a groundbreaking year in terms of technological advances. You can be sure that Moms will be on the forefront of the innovation landscape as they continue to find new uses for products and devices that surprise even the masterminds behind the technology.

About Me

Maria T. Bailey is an award-winning author, radio talk show host, nationally known speaker and the foremost marketing authority on marketing to moms. Her company, BSM Media is a full service marketing and media firm that specializes in marketing to mothers.